AUGUSTA — The Maine School Superintendents Association supports a bill that would change state law to prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Elizabeth Caruso, R-Caratunk, would require sports teams to be designated as male, female, or coed, and would prohibit students who are biologically male from competing in girls’ sports.
Support for LD 1337 clashes with the steps taken in support of the Maine Human Rights Act by the Maine Principals’ Association, the group that oversees high school sports, but aligns with executive orders signed by President Donald J. Trump that prohibits transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports.
Transgender students in Maine can play sports on the team that aligns with their gender identity under the Maine Human Rights Act.
A spokesperson for the Maine School Superintendents Association said the organization is not ready to comment on its position on the bill, despite listing its support on its website. The association, which represents superintendents across Maine, publicly posts its positions on legislative bills.
“There are several other bills in the Legislature on this very sensitive issue that the MSSA Legislative Committee does not support,” Robbie Feinberg, association spokesperson said. “We are currently developing our testimony on all of these measures, and we also understand that there will be more bills coming later on in the legislative session. Until we see and have considered all of these bills, we are not prepared to share our testimony on this one LD.”
The Maine School Superintendents Association and the Maine School Boards Association are housed under the Maine School Management Association. The Maine School Management Association provides sample policies for school districts and can help school boards in the process to hire a superintendent.
It differs from the Maine Principals’ Association, which represents the state’s principals and oversees and regulates high school sports.
The Maine Principals’ Association has defended its position in following the Maine Human Rights Act, a state law that grants civil liberties on race, gender, religion, and other areas, to all Mainers; and has received national heat from the groups’ refusal to sign a resolution agreement that aligns with the Trump administration’s executive order to prohibit transgender girls from participating in girl’s sports.
Maine schools receive 10.7% of their overall funding — about $250 million — from the federal government to support Title I, which supplements state and local funding for low-achieving children, especially in high-poverty schools; school lunches; and special education. It is unclear if any federal funding is in jeopardy because of the decision by the MPA and Maine Department of Education to not sign the Trump administration’s agreement.
Jared M. Bornstein, an attorney at Preti Flaherty and a spokesperson for the Maine Principals’ Association, said that the association is currently complying with the law and Maine Human Rights Act.
“We encourage stakeholders and decision makers in the statehouse to have the debate about what the law and our policy will be moving forward. MPA is neutral on all current pending legislation and will testify in an information providing neither for nor against position,” the association spokesperson said.
A document on the association’s website says that the superintendents association met on April 1 to discuss the round of bills that included LD 1337.
Meeting minutes from February show the association’s executive committee met with Pender Makin, commissioner of the Maine Department of Education, who reminded the association that Maine schools follow state law, not federal law, specifically when referring to the Title IX executive order made by the Trump administration.
Makin stated the same position when several Maine schools faced a federal injunction last year over the Biden administration’s updated Title IX policies that included a policy for protection against discrimination over gender identity.
The Kennebec regional legislative representative for the Maine Schools Superintendent Association did not respond for a comment on the matter.
This story will be updated.
While influenza remains the top concern for Maine public health experts, other viruses are also currently circulating, including norovirus and COVID-19.
“Influenza is clearly the main event,” said Dr. Cheryl Liechty, a MaineHealth infectious disease specialist. “The curve in terms of the rise of influenza cases was really steep.”
Maine reported 1,343 flu cases for the week ending Jan. 3, an uptick from the 1,283 cases recorded the previous week, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Hospitalizations increased to 147 from 108 during the same time periods.
“I hope the peak is now,” Liechty said, “but I’m not really sure.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Friday that all of New England, except for Vermont, is currently experiencing “very high” levels of influenza. Vermont is in the “moderate” category.
“What we are seeing, overwhelmingly, is the flu,” said Andrew Donovan, associate vice president of infection prevention for Northern Light Health. “We are seeing both respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses in our patients.”
Norovirus also appears to be circulating, although due to its short duration and because it’s less severe than the flu, public health data on the illness — which causes gastrointestinal symptoms that typically resolve within a few days — is not as robust.
“Norovirus is the gastrointestinal scourge of New England winters and cruise ships,” Liechty said.
According to surveillance data at wastewater treatment plants in Portland, Bangor and Lewiston, norovirus levels detected in those communities are currently “high.” The treatment plants participate in WastewaterSCAN, which reports virus levels in wastewater through a program run by Stanford University and Emory University.
Dr. Genevieve Whiting, a Westbrook pediatrician and secretary of the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said viruses are prevalent right now, especially the flu and norovirus.
“For my patients right now, it’s a rare encounter that I hear everyone in a family has been healthy,” Whiting said. “I’ve had families come in and say their entire family has had norovirus. Several of my patients have had ER visits for suspected norovirus, where they needed IV fluids because they were dehydrated.”
Both Liechty and Whiting said they are seeing less respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, likely because there has been good uptake of the new RSV vaccine, which is recommended for older people and those who are pregnant. The vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023.
“The RSV vaccine has been a real success, as RSV was a leading cause of hospitalizations for babies,” Whiting said.
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases increased to 610 in the final week of 2025, compared to 279 the previous week. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are available at primary care, pharmacies and clinics across the state.
“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet,” Liechty said, “you should beat a hasty path to get your shot.”
Defensemen Max Wanner was re-assigned to the Maine Mariners from the Providence Bruins on Thursday. Defenseman Michael Underwood was also re-assigned to Maine.
Wanner, 22, was acquired by the Boston Bruins when they traded Trent Federic to Edmonton last March. He played in 15 games for the AHL Providence Bruins at the end of last season, and seven this season.
Underwood returns for his second stint with the Mariners. He appeared in 67 games with Maine last season.
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